Opening photo: In case of fire, intumescent coatings prevent the overloading of steel structures for a given time, thus avoiding premature collapse.
© Sika
INNOVATIONS: PRESENT&FUTURE
Sika® Unitherm® Platinum-120: The Innovative Fire Protection System for Steel Structures Alessia Venturi ipcm®
A
lthough steel constructions do not burn, very high temperatures
binder begins to soften until it is inflated by the gases produced thanks
can reduce their load bearing capacity and compromise their static
to a foaming agent, which forms a protective foam on the structure. The
stability in a matter of minutes. Intumescent coatings are a passive fire
coating, initially about a millimetre thick, thus converts into an insulating
protection system used when it is crucial to also guarantee the good
and microporous foam that is several centimetres thick and able to
aesthetic appearance of structures (ref. Opening photo). The operating
insulate the steel structure from heat. Intumescent coatings can be
principle of these products is based on their specific and complex
one-component (mainly used for on-site applications) or
chemical composition. Thanks to the thermal energy of fire, the surface
two-component products (exclusively for application in the factory).
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N. 29 - 2019 APRIL - ipcm® Protective Coatings